Fine dining on CAMPER but getting further away from JAFAs…

Hamish Hooper blogs from on board CAMPER

Finally we are free of the South China Sea, and by the way the salty old dogs onboard are talking we got off pretty lightly. I don’t intend going back if that was getting off lightly.

Already the seas are far more settled, and with that my appetite has finally returned.

I had my first bowl of muesli this morning, which was sensational. And I am already looking forward to my secret stash of Nacho chips, which mixed with a can of smoked tuna equate to what I call fine dining worthy of a Michelin star on a VO70. Trouble is with all of the hawks onboard I must prepare and eat my delicacy at my surreptitious best or else they will all want some. I’m not sure there is a hope hiding any food from the Spanish mouse though…

It was good to finally skirt around Taiwan last night, yet another country we have seen, and smelt but never been to. For a while there it was CAMPER approaching warp speed again flying along at about 25 knots. Unfortunately it was relatively short lived.

We are now heading out into the Philippine sea- but unfortunately this does not yet mean we are heading towards home.

Having achieved our first goal of getting out of the Luzon straight first, our next short term goal is simple- get furthest east- fastest. Which unfortunately is far from the most direct route to NZ.

I don’t think we have actually ticked off any miles towards New Zealand in the last few days, but the plan is a long term one. By long term I mean we are setting ourselves up as best we can for where we want to be in 9 days time.

Initially it seemed that we were the only boat taking this north easterly route, it now is apparent that the rest of the fleet have realized the distinct lack of any good breeze if they took a more south easterly route. It seems the race is now to be first to get into the best northeast trade winds and turn down towards New Zealand.

This is the theory this is the plan to reach the City of Greatness in first place. Now lets hope it works.

In New Zealand, Aucklanders are referred to as Jafa’s- it’s a term of endearment.

I love Jafa’s

Only minutes after getting what was a great sked, the wind has died and we find ourselves drifting in next to no breeze. More torture!

I guess on the bright side of things it is a nice reprieve from the hard banging and crashing the leg has consisted of so far.

GOLDEN QUOTE: “ Currently heading north towards Japan, this doesn’t seem quite right, but apparently this is the quickest way to get to New Zealand. It is somewhat comforting that the entire fleet has followed suit.” WILL OXLEY